Banana Rasayana

Banana Rasayana or Banana Payasa is very famous dish in Dakshina Kannada. (Southern Part of Karnataka). It is also called as Seehikarane (Sweet dish).

Bananas, coconut milk, jaggery and cardamom is normally used to prepare this Rasayana. A little twist in this recipe is, using honey instead of jaggery and fresh milk instead of coconut milk.

Fresh, delicious bananas are available year around and also it is one of the cheapest fruits. 
Banana fruit is one of the high calorie tropical fruit. It contains good amount of health benefiting anti-oxidants, minerals and vitamins. The fruit contain a good amount of soluble dietary fiber that helps normal bowel movements and helps to reduce constipation problems. Fresh bananas provide sufficient level of minerals like copper, magnesium and manganese. Copper is required in the production of red blood cells and Magnesium is essential for bone strengthening. It is also rich in pottasium which helps to control heart rate and blood presure.

Honey is a healthier substiture to sugar. Its a source of energy. Good for digestion and is known to be useful for the skin because of its moisturizing and nourishing properties. The wonderful healing qualities of honey have been known since ancient times. Honey is an excellent first aid remedy as it is has natural antiseptic qualities. Honey helps to reduce cough and throat irritation. It works as Anti-bacterial and anti fungal. Honey reduce ulcers and other gastrointestinal disorders. Honey is remedy for burns and cuts.

Banana Rasayana can be used as a desert too. This sweet dish is a side dish, goes very well with Dosas, Neer dosas (Dosa prepared with raw rice and little coconut or without coconut), Chapati or even Poories.

Things needed :

Banana : 4 to 6
Honey : 2 to 3 table spoons
Fresh Milk : 1 Cup
Cardamom : 3 to 4 pods
Fresh Coconut : 1 Table spoon
Cashew Nuts : 2 Table spoons

Method : 

1. Powder the cardamom and keep it aside.

2. Remove the skin of bananas and cut it into small pieces. (According to your wish).

3. Now take a big bowl. Add cut bananas, honey and coconut.

                                 

4. Add milk and cardamom.

5. Mix all the ingredients nicely and shift it to a serving bowl. Top up with cashews.

6. Serve with dosa or chapatis or pooris.

Note :

Do not add water. No need to add ghee or any other oily stuff. You can also add honey according to your wish. (more or less). You can also add dry fruits to this mixture. You can also prepare Banana milk shake with same ingredients. (Do not add coconut if you are preparing Banana milk shake).
Time : 10 minutes.
Serves : 2 to 3 

Recipe for Neer Dosa:

Wash and soak 2 cups of raw rice (dosa rice) for 4 to 5 hours and grind it nicely with very little water till paste. Remove from the jar add 4 to 5 cups of water and salt to the dough and mix it nicely and prepare Neer dosa. (Sprinkle oil before you put dough on the pan). 10 to 12 Dosas can be prepared.

Note : 

Must add sufficient water. Do not spread the dough with the spoon. Put a spoonful of dough and turn the pan little round. Since the dough is watery it spreads like dosa. Cover the lid and cook on medium flame.No need to turn the dosa. Must cover since it gets the white patch other wise.
Time : 20 minutes
Serves : 3 to 4